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Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin surprised supporters and detractors when she suddenly resigned last week.

Why did the former vice presidential candidate resign? And what does it mean?

Those questions remain unanswered as most TV outlets took to revisiting whether their own coverage of Palin has been unfair.

Since Palin blamed the media in part for her decision to step down, FOX News, for example, asks
contributor Liz Trotta if she thought it was fair to criticize the governor…Trotta said yes.

“It’s very easy to say that the liberal media is caving in on her and yes they are, but she has given them a lot of raw meat.  The woman is inarticulate, undereducated, I pose this question, what would William F. Buckley think about her as the standard bearer for the conservative party?”

Whatever the reasons for Palin’s “bailout”, the real issue is that it makes female politicians look bad.  Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus says resigning:

“…underscores the image of women unable to withstand the heat of political pressure…Palin's move -- not retreating, she said, but ‘advancing in another direction’ -- is no advance, for her or any other woman.”

The ladies of The View discussed that heat, and compared Palin’s choices to those of Hillary Clinton.

“Sherry: It gave me an even greater respect for Hillary Clinton I’ll tell you that…to watch her resign because Hillary Clinton, nobody’s been through the wringer as a woman more than Hillary Clinton has been in the wringer.

Elizabeth: I think Sarah Palin might give her a run for her money.

Sherry: What Hillary Clinton has faced over the years, compared with Sarah Palin, I do think so. But this is the clip I want to show.

Elizabeth: I think they’re tied.

Sherry: I don’t think they’re tied at all.

Elizabeth:  Her children being attacked…

Sherry: Hillary Clinton’s children, Chelsea was attacked.”

Political satire and DC gossip blog Wonkette was on the same page as Sherry, and points out hypocrisy from Palin- in 2008 she advised now Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to “plow through” her storm of criticism during the presidential primaries.

“Well, you know, I think, fair or unfair, I do think it’s a more concentrated criticism Hillary gets on many fronts I think that’s unfortunate, but fair or unfair I think she does herself a disservice to even mention it really.  You have to plow through that.  You have to know what you’re getting into….when I hear a statement like that coming from a woman candidate with any sort of perceived whine about that excess criticism…I think man that doesn’t do us any good.”

Back in Alaska, where the lieutenant governor is taking over, The Anchorage Daily News strikes a rather hurt note in an editorial that praises Palin for what she accomplished during her brief term.

But it also notes Alaskans deserve a clear explanation for their governor’s resignation.

“Sarah Palin is a charismatic leader with a devoted national following and ambition to match. So there's no surprise if she sees a future for herself beyond Alaska. But we thought she'd finish her work on the home front first. She hasn't made clear why she won't.”

Do you think resigning the governor’s job was good or bad for Palin’s political career?